Changes

Three main approaches have been used in providing computer tools for the geologist. The first was a centrally located mainframe attended by white-coated operators and fed by keypunched card decks, or later, remote video terminals. These have largely been superseded by one or both of the other methods, although mainframes still have their place in certain applications. The second method was fostered by the advent of mini-computers and could best be termed ''distributed computing'', where the computing power was placed in operating regional offices. These computers were often networked together within a company to provide for data sharing and some central databases. The third approach has been the explosion in personal computers, or PCs, over the past decade. Initially only offering what could be termed business applications, there are now numerous geoscience applications available, and a useable development geology workstation can be built solely around a PC.

Three main approaches have been used in providing computer tools for the geologist. The first was a centrally located mainframe attended by white-coated operators and fed by keypunched card decks, or later, remote video terminals. These have largely been superseded by one or both of the other methods, although mainframes still have their place in certain applications. The second method was fostered by the advent of mini-computers and could best be termed ''distributed computing'', where the computing power was placed in operating regional offices. These computers were often networked together within a company to provide for data sharing and some central databases. The third approach has been the explosion in personal computers, or PCs, over the past decade. Initially only offering what could be termed business applications, there are now numerous geoscience applications available, and a useable development geology workstation can be built solely around a PC.

Today, the geologist is likely to have a hybrid of any or all of the above, often with everything from PC to mainframe networked together, and each computer platform filling its appropriate role in the total system. The mainframe is best at managing large databases and providing certain computer-intensive applications such as reservoir simulation. Minicomputers offer local peripheral sharing of plotters and digitizers, file serving to local area networks, and scientific applications such as map gridding and contouring. The PC may overlap significantly with the mini-computer in providing geoscience applications, but it is still the work horse in general purpose applications such as word processing and spreadsheet calculations. In addition, it has become the best platform for graphics-oriented programs.

Today, the geologist is likely to have a hybrid of any or all of the above, often with everything from PC to mainframe networked together, and each computer platform filling its appropriate role in the total system. The mainframe is best at managing large databases and providing certain computer-intensive applications such as reservoir simulation. Minicomputers offer local peripheral sharing of plotters and digitizers, file serving to local area networks, and scientific applications such as map gridding and [[contour]]ing. The PC may overlap significantly with the mini-computer in providing geoscience applications, but it is still the work horse in general purpose applications such as word processing and spreadsheet calculations. In addition, it has become the best platform for graphics-oriented programs.

All of these elements are illustrated in [[:file:a-development-geology-workstation_fig1.png|Figure 1]], except for the remote mainframe, which may not be present at all. Great variability is seen among various installations; for example, laser printers can be connected to a dedicated print server on the network rather than directly to the PC, and digitizing can be done directly into the PC. In some cases, color graphics terminals directly connected to the minicomputer are still in vogue, but these are largely being supplanted by PCs running terminal emulation programs instead.

All of these elements are illustrated in [[:file:a-development-geology-workstation_fig1.png|Figure 1]], except for the remote mainframe, which may not be present at all. Great variability is seen among various installations; for example, laser printers can be connected to a dedicated print server on the network rather than directly to the PC, and digitizing can be done directly into the PC. In some cases, color graphics terminals directly connected to the minicomputer are still in vogue, but these are largely being supplanted by PCs running terminal emulation programs instead.

* Mapping

* Mapping

** Base maps

** Base maps

** Contours

** [[Contour]]s

** Geological

** Geological

** Topographic

** Topographic